Christmas Movies for the Whole Family
The hardest movie night of the year is the one where a six-year-old and a fifteen-year-old both have to enjoy the same film. These holiday picks span that gap, and each carries a note on what the youngest viewer in the room will actually encounter.
20 script-verified picks
- 1Elf2003 · PG5+
Only mild scares, mild language — our age 5+ pick
- 2Home Alone1990 · PG7+
A few genuinely tense scenes, mild language — our age 7+ pick
- 3The Polar Express2004 · G6+
A few genuinely tense scenes, barely any language — our age 6+ pick
- 4A Christmas Story1983 · PG7+
Only mild scares, strong language throughout — our age 7+ pick
- 5The Nightmare Before Christmas1993 · PG7+
A few genuinely tense scenes, barely any language — our age 7+ pick
- 6The Muppet Christmas Carol1992 · G6+
Some intense frightening scenes, barely any language — our age 6+ pick
- 7National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation1989 · PG-1313+
Only mild scares, strong language throughout — our age 13+ pick
- 8Arthur Christmas2011 · PG6+
A few genuinely tense scenes, barely any language — our age 6+ pick
- 9The Christmas Chronicles2018 · PG7+
A few genuinely tense scenes, mild language — our age 7+ pick
- 10A Christmas Carol2009 · PG7+
Some intense frightening scenes, barely any language — our age 7+ pick
- 11The Santa Clause1994 · PG5+
Only mild scares, barely any language — our age 5+ pick
- 12How the Grinch Stole Christmas2000 · PG6+
A few genuinely tense scenes, barely any language — our age 6+ pick
- 13Fred Claus2007 · PG6+
Only mild scares, barely any language — our age 6+ pick
- 14Its a Wonderful Life1946 · PG8+
Some intense frightening scenes, mild language — our age 8+ pick
- 15Love Actually2003 · R13+
Only mild scares, some strong language — our age 13+ pick
- 16Frozen2013 · PG5+
A few genuinely tense scenes, barely any language — our age 5+ pick
- 17Home Alone 2: Lost in New York1992 · PG8+
A few genuinely tense scenes, mild language — our age 8+ pick
- 18Miracle on 34th Street1994 · PG5+
Barely a scary moment, barely any language — our age 5+ pick
- 19The Grinch2018 · PG4+
Only mild scares, barely any language — our age 4+ pick
- 20Jingle All the Way1996 · PG6+
Only mild scares, mild language — our age 6+ pick
